It doesn't get more basic - or more politically easy - than hate crimes legislation. Unfortunately, a handful of House Democrats refuse to support even the most basic of our shared Democratic and American values.
On October 6, 2009, twenty-two House Democrats voted to strip language from the Defense Authorization bill to expand the federal hate crimes law to include protections on the bases of actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.

While there are plenty of areas where we have room to disagree as Democrats there can be no compromise on the need to enact pro-equality legislation at the federal level that extends basic fairness and equal opportunity to all Americans regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Stonewall Democrats cannot - and will not - turn a blind eye when Democratic lawmakers take stands against basic fairness and equal opportunity for LGBT Americans.

The following twenty-two Democratic Members of Congress voted to remove the Matthew Shepard Act from the Defense Authorization bill:*The list and action:22 House Democrats [National Stonewall Democrats]

What can we say: Some ride the donkey without sticking around to help sweep up all of poop. Good on National Stonewall Dems for holding these 22 accountable for failing to vote for what they see as being core Democratic values.

Now if you'll excuse us, we have some leaping Lords to try to sell on eBay.

Dave: Yea, but it's a bit of an "evergreen" story, which I didn't feel needed to break at any one time. I've had it since mid week, but just didn't get to it until today.

The point remains: These 22 House Dems didn't vote for hate crimes leg., and Stonewall wants you to know about it.

Two of the dems say that they do support more inclusive hate crimes legislation. One said he voted against the bill for procedural(??) reasons. The other because it included the Senate's "death penalty", and "mandatory sentences". I'm not that up on the actual bill or vote to know, but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.